and so get you gone to bed, for it is late.

25. The three weeks are out yesterday since I had your last, and so now
I will be expecting every day a pretty dear letter from my own MD, and
hope to hear that Stella has been much better in her head and eyes:
my head continues as it was, no fits, but a little disorder every day,
which I can easily bear, if it will not grow worse. I dined to-day with
Mr. Secretary St. John, on condition I might choose my company, which
were Lord Rivers, Lord Carteret, Sir Thomas Mansel,(1) and Mr. Lewis; I
invited Masham, Hill, Sir John Stanley, and George Granville, but they
were engaged; and I did it in revenge of his having such bad company
when I dined with him before; so we laughed, etc. And I ventured to go
to church to-day, which I have not done this month before. Can you send
me such a good account of Stella's health, pray now? Yes, I hope, and
better too. We dined (says you) at the Dean's, and played at cards
till twelve, and there came in Mr. French, and Dr. Travors, and Dr.
Whittingham, and Mr. (I forget his name, that I always tell Mrs. Walls
of) the banker's son, a pox on him. And we were so merry; I vow they are
pure good company. But I lost a crown; for you must know I had always
hands tempting me to go out, but never took in anything, and often
two black aces without a manilio; was not that hard, Presto? Hold your
tongue, etc.

26. I was this morning with Mr. Secretary about some business, and
he tells me that Colonel Fielding is now going to make Bernage
his captain-lieutenant, that is, a captain by commission, and the
perquisites of the company; but not captain's pay, only the first step
to it. I suppose he will like it; and the recommendation to the Duke
of Argyle goes on. And so trouble me no more about your Bernage; the
jackanapes understands what fair solicitors he has got, I warrant you.
Sir Andrew Fountaine and I dined, by invitation, with Mrs. Vanhomrigh.
You say they are of no consequence: why, they keep as good female
company as I do male; I see all the drabs of quality at this end of
the town with them: I saw two Lady Bettys(2) there this afternoon; the
beauty of one, the good-breeding and nature of t'other, and the wit of
neither, would have made a fine woman. Rare walking in the Park now: why
don't you walk in the Green of St. Stephen? The walks there are finer
gravelled than the Mall. What beasts the Irish women are, never to walk!

27. Darteneuf and I, and l